When Cardinals fans hear the name José Martínez, chances are good they crack a smile. And why wouldn’t they?
Few players in recent memory brought more energy, charisma, and pure joy to the St. Louis clubhouse than “Cafecito.”
Now, after 19 seasons in professional baseball - five of those in the majors - Martínez is hanging up his cleats and calling it a career.
Martínez’s path to the big leagues was anything but conventional. He played in 887 minor league games across 11 different teams before finally breaking through.
That’s nearly a decade and a half of grinding in the shadows, chasing the dream. But when the Cardinals purchased his contract from the Royals in early 2016, they didn’t just get a bat - they got a spark plug.
In his first full season in 2017, Martínez didn’t just make the most of his opportunity - he thrived. He hit .309 with an .897 OPS and 14 home runs, establishing himself as one of the most productive bats in a St.
Louis lineup that needed exactly that. He followed it up in 2018 with another strong campaign: a .305 average, 17 homers, and an .821 OPS.
Offensively, there was never any doubt - the man could rake.
Defensively, it was a different story. Martínez struggled to find a permanent home in the field, finishing his major league career with 22 defensive runs saved below average in the outfield and four below average at first base.
But even those defensive limitations didn’t dim his value. He was the kind of player who made a team better just by walking into the clubhouse.
Martínez became a fan favorite in St. Louis not just because of what he did with the bat, but because of how he carried himself.
Whether it was tossing baseballs into the upper deck at Busch Stadium for unsuspecting fans or crafting elaborate handshakes with teammates, he brought levity and life to the dugout. He was the guy who kept things loose, the kind of teammate every clubhouse needs.
And then there was the coffee.
Nicknamed “Cafecito” - “little coffee” - a nod to his father, former major leaguer Carlos Martínez (not to be confused with the former Cardinals pitcher of the same name), José leaned into the name in the most literal way possible. In 2019, he launched his own coffee brand, “Primos,” and it quickly caught on. Even Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright gave it his stamp of approval, joking that it had him singing “Cafecito” instead of “Despacito.”
Martínez’s pride in his Venezuelan roots was always front and center. He wore a sleeve emblazoned with the Venezuelan flag and the words “Venezuelan pride,” and after his time in MLB, he returned to play in the Venezuelan Winter League, as well as stints in the Colombian and Mexican leagues.
From 2022 through 2024, even in his mid-30s, he continued to hit - batting well over .300 each season. In 2025, he finished with a .299 average, showing that even in the twilight of his career, the bat still had plenty of life.
He also suited up for the Rays and Cubs during his major league tenure, but it was in St. Louis where he made his biggest mark - not just statistically, but culturally. He was the heartbeat of the dugout, the guy with the biggest smile and the most infectious energy.
Now, with nearly two decades of baseball behind him, José Martínez steps away from the game as more than just a former big leaguer. He leaves as a beloved teammate, a fan favorite, and a reminder that passion and personality matter just as much as numbers on a stat sheet.
For Cardinals fans, “Cafecito” was more than a nickname - it was a vibe. And after 19 years, he was, indeed, good to the last drop.